working in schools
Recruitment/Retention
of Speech-Language
Pathologists (SLPs)
A Guide for West Virginia School Districts
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
2007-2008
Delores W. Cook, President
Priscilla M. Haden,Vice President
Ronald B. Spencer, Secretary
Robert W. Dunlevy, Member
Barbara N. Fish, Member
Burma Hatfield, Member
Lowell E. Johnson, Member
Gayle C. Manchin, Member
Jenny N. Phillips, Member
Brian E. Noland, Ex Officio
Chancellor
West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission
James L. Skidmore, Ex Officio
Chancellor
West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education
Steven L. Paine, Ex Officio
State Superintendent of Schools
West Virginia Department of Education
Discrimination Prohibited: The West Virginia Department of Education does not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, color, religion, disability, age
and national origin in employment and in the administration of any of its education programs and activities. Inquiries may be directed to the Elimination
of Sex Discrimination Program Coordinator, 304-558-2702; to the Section 504 Coordinator, 304-558-2696, (V/TDD), West Virginia Department of
Education, 1900 Kanawha Blvd. E., Charleston, WV, 25305-0330; or to the U.S. Department of Education's Director of the Office for Civil Rights, 215656-8541.
RECRUITMENT/RETENTION OF SLPs
A GUIDE FOR WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOL DISTRICTS
The purpose of this brochure is to address the critical shortage of speech-language pathologists
(SLPs) working in the West Virginia public schools by providing information and hiring strategies
that facilitate recruitment efforts.
TOPICS
!
HIRING CHECKLIST
o
Contact Information
!
ADVANTAGES OF WORKING IN WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOLS
o
Work Benefits
!
INCENTIVES
o
Financial/Worksite
!
PROMOTING “WILD, WONDERFUL” WEST VIRGINIA
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"HIRING CHECKLIST
Where to go when hiring an SLP.
"
"
ADVERTISE
o West Virginia K-12 Education Job-Bank
" WVDE Web site http://wvde.state.wv.us/jobs/
" List under special education
o West Virginia Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WVSHA) list serve:
webmaster@wvsha.org
o WVSHA Spring Convention
! Contact: Elizabeth McClain emcclain@access.k12.wv.us
o Professional journals/newspapers
CONTACT: Graduate Programs to Post Vacancies
o West Virginia Programs
Marshall University
! Susan Thomas Frank frankst@marshall.edu
West Virginia University
! Karen Haines Karen.Haines@mail.wvu.edu
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o Graduate Programs in Other States
" The following is a list of graduate programs located in bordering states that
offer a master’s degree in speech pathology. A list of graduate programs in
all states may be located on ASHA’s EdFind Web site:
http://www.asha.org/about/HES/default.htm
• Universities in Virginia
! Radford http://cosd-web.asp.radford.edu/
! James Madison http://www.iup.edu/eh/
! Hampton http://www.hamptonu.edu/
! Old Dominion http://education.odu.edu/esse/
! Longwood http://www.longwood.edu/cehs/education/index.htm
! Virginia http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/commdis
• Universities in Pennsylvania
! Clarion http://www.clarion.edu/
! Indiana http://www.iup.edu/eh/
! Duquesne http://www.duq.edu/
! Pittsburg http://www.shrs.pitt.edu/CMS/Departments/CSD.asp
! CAL U http://www.cup.edu/index.jsp
! Penn State http://csd.hhdev.psu.edu/
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•
•
Universities in Ohio
• Case Westernhttp://www.case.edu/artsci/cosi/
• Cleveland State http://www.csuohio.edu/speech
• Miami http://casnov1.cas.muohio.edu/spa/
• Cincinnati http://homepages.uc.edu/csd/
• Akron http://www.uakron.edu/
• Kent State http://www.ehhs.kent.edu/spa/
Universities in Kentucky:
! Kentucy http://www.mc.uky.edu/CommDisorders/
! Louisville http://louisville.edu/medschool/surgery/com-disorders/slp/
! Eastern Kentucky http://www.eku.edu/
" American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) to identify
additional programs and recruitment resources:
" http://www.asha.org/about/career
" Job Postings: http://careers.asha.org/rates/
" Professional Recruitment Services
" Internet Resources
" Internet Resources: http://www.teachers-teachers.com/
" JOB FAIRS
o Send a representative (SLP preferably) to
" University/College job fairs
" ASHA job fair during annual ASHA Conference
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WHY WORK IN WEST VIRGINIA
The following are talking points and incentives that school districts may use as
recruitment strategies when interviewing potential employees.
"
ADVANTAGES: WORKING IN WEST VIRGINIA SCHOOLS
• National Board Certification equivalency for Certificate of Clinical Competence (CCC)
o Contact: Scottie Ford smford@access.k12.wv.us
• Caseload of 50 (lower than many states)
• Job Mentoring
• Reciprocity for years of experience in other states
• Job Security
• 200-day work year (paid 10 or 12 months)
o Holidays/Summer Vacation
• Work Benefits
o Retirement Package
o Medical Benefits/Life Insurance
o Optional Dental/Vision Insurance
o Sick Leave Bank/Caretaker Leave
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INCENTIVES: OPTIONAL INCENTIVES SCHOOL DISTRICTS MAY WANT TO
CONSIDER
"
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WORK SITE INCENTIVES
Reimbursement for ASHA dues/Medicaid billing
Student loan forgiveness
County level supplements/Sign-on bonuses
Moving expenses/Relocation assistance
Professional CEUs reimbursed
o Expenses paid to conferences
Job sharing
Clinical Fellowship Year (CFY) supervision
o Contact lead SLP
Technology support/training
Collaboration among SLPs
Evidence-based therapy and assessment tools provided
PROMOTE “WILD, WONDERFUL” WEST VIRGINIA!
Recreational opportunities:
o Whitewater rafting, skiing, boating, hiking, hunting
West Virginia cultural heritage:
o Appalachian arts, music, crafts festivals, theater
Affordable housing
Low crime rate
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"
For more information:
!
Kathy Knighton (kknighto@access.k12.wv.us)
West Virginia Department of Education
!
Bernadette Rush (bmrush@ma.rr.com ) or
Lisa Jackson (lisadanj@verizon.net)
West Virginia Speech-Language-Hearing Association (WVSHA)
!
Connie Breza (cbreza@access.k12.wv.us)
WVSHA State Education Advocacy Leader (SEAL)
American-Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)
!
West Virginia Tourism : http://www.wvtourism.com/
This brochure was developed by the West Virginia Advisory Council on the Recruitment/Retention of
Public School Speech-Language Pathologists, which is funded by the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association (ASHA), the West Virginia Department of Education and the West Virginia SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association.
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Dr. Steven L. Paine
State Superintendent of Schools
West Virginia Department of Education